News and Events

2012 Violence Prevention Slogans Announced

The winning slogans from COMPASS' 2012 Violence Prevent Slogan Contest have been selected! Congratulations to the winners:

25 Years of Preserving Peaceful Possibilities Think, Communicate, Mediate The contest was open to COMPASS students and the winners were awarded gift certificates. The slogans will be used in publicity and fundraising materials for the event, and featured on t-shirts and other giveaways to... Read more

COMPASS and Theatre for Kids

A letter of thanks from COMPASS to the Marilyn Rodman Theatre for Kids program was recently quoted in The Ride Report, a newsletter for friends and supporters of the Rodman Ride for Kids:

"On behalf of COMPASS clients and staff, I want to thank you for the 20 tickets to Peter Pan. I heard that the clients and staff alike thought... Read more

COMPASS Hosts MAAPS

Legislators from Boston attended a meeting this week at COMPASS School in Dorchester to discuss legislative and budget issues pertaining to Chapter 766 - private special education schools.

Representatives Walsh, Forry, Michlewitz and Senators Hart, Chang-Diaz, and Petrucelli attended the meeting. The meeting was organized by the Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (MAAPS) whose member school students have... Read more

Computer Literacy School-Wide

COMPASS is happy to announce a grant award in the amount of $40,000 from The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI) on behalf of an anonymous foundation sponsoring the Boston Cradle to Career initiative. COMPASS responded to this grant initiative with a focus on the foundation's goal to raise aspirations and enhance skills of young people through literacy programs, youth... Read more

COMPASS Partners with Northeastern

COMPASS is pleased to have established a partnership with the Service-Learning Program at Northeastern University's Center of Community Service. Stephanie, our Northeastern student this fall, represents the course Child Intervention and Treatment led by faculty member Emily Mann. Stephanie has been working with School staff member Brandy Crawford, under the supervision of Anne-Carol Malone, to strengthen the school's Violence... Read more

COMPASS: Year at a Glance

COMPASS recently mailed its 2011 At a Glance update, an end of fiscal year report for our stakeholders. We present the same information here...

From John J. Lydon, Executive Director: Our 2011 fiscal year was filled with change, challenge, and progress. I'm proud to work with our dedicated, diverse and experienced staff. They create an environment of hope, caring and commitment for... Read more

The Brighter Path

Comprehensive Support & Stabilization Case Worker Steve B. was recently honored with a commendation letter from Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. The commendation came as a result of a letter sent to Governor Deval Patrick by a grateful mother, Gale F., whose family Steve had worked with. In addition to her kind letter, Gale created and dedicated a painting to Steve,... Read more

COMPASS Holiday Appeal

COMPASS kids and families are working against great odds to make a better life for themselves.

COMPASS' Annual Holiday Appeal is inspired by the students and families who have come to count on COMPASS to be there for them during good times and bad. This year's Holiday Appeal will be dedicated to our "Help Fund" for COMPASS Kids and Families,... Read more

Wider Horizons Intern Gareth McAlinden

COMPASS is happy to welcome Gareth McAlinden, a resident of Ireland, to assist COMPASS School staff in their work with high school aged students. Gareth was one of 21 participants selected for the Wider Horizons Program. He described his placement at COMPASS as a great experience that provided a good opportunity to bond with students through basketball, something that so... Read more

Brown Rudnick Grant to COMPASS Café

The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation Corp., a nonprofit, tax-exempt entity established by attorneys from Brown Rudnick LLP, has awarded a Community Grant to the COMPASS to purchase a Point Of Sale (POS) computer system for the COMPASS Café, part of our Culinary Arts Program. The new system will replace an outdated cash register, improving overall efficiency. More importantly, students will learn to use... Read more

AmeriCorps Promise Fellow Sabeta Jarba

The COMPASS School welcomes AmeriCorps Promise Fellow Sabeta Jarba to the program! Her role will be to develop and co-implement a curriculum for the Building Maintenance and Repair (BMR) program. This will include ensuring the program meets OSHA standards, and coordinating apprenticeships, job shadowing, internships, and job opportunities for students

Sabeta will also co-facilitate instructional groups for students who are seeking... Read more

Computer Capital Project: Good News!

COMPASS Is Excited to Share the Good News About Our Successful "Computer Capital Project" In January 2011 COMPASS launched this campaign to raise funds to purchase computers and software to replace old equipment.

Funders awarding grants to the Project designated that their funds be used by COMPASS School students for use in classrooms, in the student computer lab, to create a new... Read more

Field Trip: Duck Tour

COMPASS School summer students enjoyed a fun field trip around Boston this summer on the famous Duck Tours amphibious vehicle.

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2011 Washington DC Trip

Six students from four different towns enjoyed the annual Kip Sowpel Washington DC trip this year. Students saw the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, the Air and Space Museum, the National Mall and monuments, as well as taking in a Washington Nationals baseball game. Students expressed their excitment in the oppurtunity to have new experiences, with some students... Read more

Help Fund for Kids and Families

COMPASS kids and families are working against great odds to make a better life for themselves.

Most live in poverty, are recovering from trauma and are working to overcome challenges such as learning disabilities, mental illness, single parenting, and more. COMPASS' Help Fund for Kids and Families was created to respond to unexpected or emergency needs of our students and... Read more

ASAP Expands to Orchard Gardens

Building on its recent success at Boston's Middle School Academy in Dorchester, COMPASS' After School Action Program (A.S.A.P.) has expanded its services to the Orchard Gardens K-8 School located on Albany Street in Roxbury.

Orchard Gardens School is "blooming" under the leadership of its new principal, Mr. Andrew Bott. The school, a "turnaround" school targeted for special services to help... Read more

Spring Fundraiser May 12th

COMPASS' Spring Event, held on May 12th, was a wonderful success. Ned Devine's in Faneuil Hall Marketplace provided a festive background for the event, and the occasion provided an opportunity for COMPASS supporters to catch up with staff, Board members and friends of COMPASS, accompanied by great music, hors d'oeuvres, and a variety of interesting and fun raffle and... Read more

U.S. Attorney Ortiz Speaks at Ceremony

COMPASS is honored that United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Carmen M. Ortiz joined us to speak at our Violence Prevention Ceremony on Wednesday, May 4th. Carmen M. Ortiz has dedicated much of her professional career to public service. Nominated by President Barack Obama as the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Ms. Ortiz was confirmed by the... Read more

Basketball Team in GBBL Tournament

COMPASS' basketball team played in this year's Greater Boston Basketball League (GBBL) Tournament. Though the team did not win the tournament, they displayed a mature, solid performance. The team had a season record of 10-4 and will continue to improve, potentially contending for the GBBL championship next year.

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A Parent's Gratitude

"I'm wiritng you to acknowledge and recognize the dedication, wisdom and earnestness of two COMPASS employees, Mundo and Steve, and to thank COMPASS for its support of our family last year. Words cannot begin to describe the tremendous gratitude I feel toward Mundo and Steve for their help working with our teenage son, A. It was a very difficult and... Read more

AmeriCorps Progress Report

COMPASS School's Transitional Services Coordinator and teacher, Wallace Hurd, and Kerri-Ann Foley, our Massachusetts Promise Fellow / AmeriCorps Fellow, have been working throughout this academic year on the following services with students:

  • Four students in the tranisitional classroom are slated to graduate this spring or summer and have been meeting regularly with the Transition staff, investigating post-secondary education and employment opportunities.... Read more

    State Street Progress Report

    Some of our students most significant achievements this year involve the work COMPASS has been able to do (and provide) thanks to the State Street Grant we received last year.

    The grant allows us to pay students stipends for work they're doing in the building and in the surrounding community. Seven students (Michael, Sharif, Sean, Tyler, Jean, Darwin, and Kendrick)... Read more

    Children's League Advocacy Day

    Executive Director John Lydon, along with COMPASS School staff and students, participated in the Children's League of Massachusetts Advocacy Day Program at the State House on Feburary 8, 2011. Massachusetts Senate and House representatives spoke to the audience of League members and their constituents, and representatives heard from some of the students in attendance, who shared their hopes for... Read more

    New College Partnerships

    Curry College has begun an internship program with COMPASS School for undergraduate students majoring in Criminal Justice. Students will be developing objectives with a college professor and COMPASS to help them to learn more about students who have been involved with the criminal justice system. Currently we have two student interns working in the school, Jennifer and Sara. ... Read more

    New Grants!

    COMPASS is pleased to announce recent grant awards from a number of Boston area organizations, foundations, and government agencies, including:

    • The Boston Center for Blind Children
    • The Boston Foundation's "Vision Fund"
    • The Clipper Ship Foundation
    • Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
    • State Street Foundation
    • The City of Boston, Dept. of Neighborhood Development,"Partners with Non-Profits" A grant of $15,000 was received for... Read more

      AmeriCorps Fellowship to COMPASS

      COMPASS is happy to have Kerri Foley join our school staff as a Job Readiness Fellow. The Fellow position at COMPASS was awarded through the Massachusetts Promise Fellowship, which is part of the national AmeriCorps program. Kerri will work to enhance current transitional services by developing a job readiness and supported emplyment program. The Massachusetts Promise... Read more

      We Host The Boston Foundation

      On Wednesday, September 29th, COMPASS was pleased to host The Boston Foundation's "Community Connections" meeting with stakeholders and leaders in the Bowdoin/Geneva community. The meeting provided an opportunity for representatives from over 20 community civic and nonprofit agencies to discuss and share their concerns with staff from The Boston Foundation, including Paul Grogan, President and CEO, and Robert Lewis... Read more

      COMPASS Meets SLUG

      SLUG - Students Learning Through Urban Gardening - a program generously funded by Boston Natural Areas Network, is now up and running at COMPASS! High school students in the 9th - 12th grade and the vocational program have been busy planting, watering, and caring for seeds, sprouts, and beanstalks! There is much excitement for SLUG, and students often... Read more

      Summer Photography

      COMPASS School's summer session included a Photography Program sponsored by Newmarket Business Association, which consisted of students taking pictures on outings including The Freedom Trail, Castle Island, the Franklin Park Zoo, and Whale Watching. The students used the pictures they took to construct five sentence paragraphs, to complete history projects, and to write childrens' books.

      Some examples of their work... Read more

      Habitat for Humanity

      4 COMPASS high school students worked with the Boston Area Habitat for Humanity Program this summer, helping to construct a garage door and ceiling in low income housing in Dorchester. Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston, Inc. is a Massachusetts charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to building simple low-cost homes by forming partnerships with low-income families in need of decent and... Read more

      2010 Washington DC Trip

      The Annual 'Kip Sowpel' Washington DC trip kicked off in late June with a Washington Nationals baseball game. Students were filled with excitement during the long road trip down, talking about the different things they wanted to do and see. The six students chose several museums and monuments to explore while in Washington. Some highlights included a... Read more

      Violence Prevention Day

      On Wednesday, June 9th, students, parents/guardians and staff celebrated COMPASS' Violence Prevention Day with a theme of "Violence Prevention Through a Recognition of Success," a day which provided an opportunity to recognize achievements in COMPASS' four school and famiily based programs. All attendees were given t-shirts which featured the creative expressions of students who participated in designing a message... Read more

      COMPASS Students Help Haiti

      COMPASS clinician Pam Stich incorporated a beaded jewelry making class in to the students' BEAMS (Beginning, Engaging, Acquiring, Mastering, Strengthening) activity program, and in to some therapy sessions, to help students relax and engage more easily. The first jewelry BEAMS project was organized around a fundraiser in which students made jewelry to sell to staff and the public during... Read more

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